by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY

by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY

Tim Thomas is healthy enough to play and his first opponent will be intriguing.

The Florida Panthers tweeted on Wednesday that the goaltender would return to action in Thursday's home game against the Boston Bruins.

He had won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2010-11 and also was the playoff MVP and Vezina Trophy winner that season.

He had played six full seasons with the Bruins and two partial ones.

Last season, though, Thomas took the year off to recharge and his rights were traded to the New York Islanders. Tuukka Rask, who had been Thomas' backup, took the Bruins to the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games.

Thomas signed with the Panthers after coming to camp as a tryout.

He won his opener, was pulled in his second game and suffered a lower-body injury when stretching to stop a wide shot. He missed the last three games.